Summerhall
Watching Sian Owen managing the in-the round stage, as well as holding the space all by herself for an hour was both dizzying and awe-inspiring.
The play touches on many themes; the need to look both back and forward through the generations to seek our strength; the trauma that comes from bullying and lasts into our own adult/parenthood; the kindness of community and the terror that comes from mothering -the fear of the damage that one may or may not do. Sian Owen was amazing, and is clearly very talented, though sometimes the humour seemed a bit too buoyant for the chaos that the character was going through. The script was funny and thoroughly enjoyable but at times didn’t reflect the reality of the characters nervous breakdown. Overall though, a great one woman piece of theatre that holds your attention all the way through.
Here’s what the young reviewers had to say:
12 year old Eden, 4 out of 5 stars : “I was crying and laughing at the same time the whole way through. I enjoyed this immensely”
15 year old Jack, 4.5 out of 5 starts: “How to be brave is witty and full of emotion and full of character all the way. Every moment has a feeling. It is a constantly evolving story told by a constantly evolving character”.
(Toni Dickson)
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